23 Nov 2015

Located in Kensington Gardens, the gallery was designed by renowned British architect Zaha Hadid. The building combines a renovated 19th century brick structure with a 21st century ‘sail-like’ structure.

Four Fireray 3000 smoke detectors were installed near the roof in the brick structure. This proved to be a challenging installation due to the narrow gap between roof skylights fitted with blinds, as well as a row of steel girders just 15cm below.

FFE’s Fireray detectors feature patented light cancellation technology which allows the detectors to work under difficult light conditions, such as bright ambient light from skylights. The technology actively monitors ambient light levels on the detector and subtracts them away from the real signal.

On this project in particular, the line of sight for the IR (infra-red) detection path was very narrow, and the reflective and bright surfaces caused further obstruction. The Fireray end-to-end beam detectors provided an ideal solution.

Designed to be aesthetically pleasing, the smoke detectors suit both modern architectural buildings and heritage sites. In this instance, the detectors were hidden behind a plasterboard wall with a hole cut into it for the IR beam.

FFE’s Managing Director Mark Osborne commented: “This installation again shows our ability to work with the most exacting clients in the most challenging installations, ensuring complete peace of mind for the end-user that they are protected from fire in a way that is completely unobtrusive.”